A Life in Genova

This is going to be my last day and night in Lucia's apartment. Sandro returns from Bardellone today and we will probably head back that way tomorrow or the next day. I am looking forward to returning to the countryside, but have not dismissed an offer I received to stay in Genova indefinitely. A woman named Aisha who owns a cafe here asked me to babysit her children. She said that I could live with her and act as nanny. I met her kids and I observed the two of them (an older brother and younger sister) dancing with each other (her on his feet), laughing a lot, and swordfighting with chopsticks. I also had the opportunity to meet and talk with the man in Aisha's life. He is english by birth, but owns a house in the south of France, a flat in London, and considers owning the cafe Aisha manages as a "hobby." When Aisha was making the offer, all I could think about was fresh-squeezed orange juice on a terrace in the south of France.

Is that so wrong?

I think the position would last longer than I intend to be in Italy. I will keep it in mind and consider contacting Aisha if I return next summer (a possibility...).

The past few days have been filled with walking the streets of Genova, grocery shopping at the biologic (organic) grocery store, buying espressos, playing guitar in the streets, and making yoga. I have also been reading the italian-english dictionary like it's a Dan Brown mystery novel. I am getting better at italian though it is still difficult and tiring to communicate; like yesterday when I was trying to politely tell a young genovese boy that I did not want to go have a drink with him. Silly, silly italian men.

I cut my hair. Not all of it, but at least 5 inches. I don't know if it's my new attitude or the new 'do, but I feel like there are fewer probing, mannish eyes looking my way. Maybe once I stopped looking at them, they dissappeared.

The day before yesterday, I played on a commericial, pedestrian street in the historic district of Genova called San Lorenzo. I played for almost an hour and a half and walked away with 11€. I bought the night's focaccia and espresso for Lucia with my earnings as she stuck around for the duration of my 'performance'. Yesterday, I decided to play at the port of Genova. I played for about 45 minutes in the blazing afternoon sun and didn't make squat (except for two loyal fans). I then moved to the shade where I could overhear the old genovese women talking about me like I couldn't understand any italian. The port was not my favorite place to play. Some people seemed to like the music (they turned around to watch me and stayed quiet while I played), but they didn't openly express it to me. People don't usually come up to me when I'm playing on the streets if they're not going to give me money. I don't give a shit if they give me money, but some sort of acknowledgment of my existence would be nice.

Alas, I know the problems I've found with playing in the streets rest within my own head and if I want to play then I have to do it for me and, come what may, enjoy it. So I left the Port and went to San Lorenzo again where people are walking around and more likely to give me a pleasing smile or some other sort of sign that I really am existing with them, there in that moment. I played for about a half an hour and ended the "work" day on a good note (so to speak). One man stood about 10 feet away from me rifling through his wallet for a minute or so then walked up to my case and tossed in all the change he could find; he looked into my eyes for a moment and said, "Grazie."

I packed up my things at about 17:45 and headed to the Cafe Dolce (where Aisha works) and had a beer and a slice of lasagna. I chatted with my two Algerian friends and Aisha for a while before returning to Lucia's. The two of us crazy cats had an early night and went to bed at around 10pm. Lucia and I talked about going to the opera tonight and I sure do hope that we do. I have never seen an opera and I think I am ready.

Ciao. Baci é abbraci